Multiple station beverage dispensing system having auxiliary control valve means

ABSTRACT

System comprising a source of beverage supply and a multiplicity of beverage-dispensing stations each having a discharge passage and a separable dispensing valve connected thereto in communication with the source of beverage supply, the valves each having an outlet, and an auxiliary control valve disposed upstream of each valve outlet for shutting off beverage flow through its respective discharge passage upon removal of a dispensing valve without deactivating the system.

United states, Patent [72] Inventors 211 Appl. No.

[22] Filed [45] Patented [73] Assignee Arthur B. Segal Barkhamsted, Conn.; Joseph]. Rodth, Swansea, Mass.

Amseco Corporation Long Island City, NY. a corporation of New York [54] MULTIPLE STATION BEVERAGE DISPENSING SYSTEM HAVING AUXILIARY CONTROL VALVE MEANS 9 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] [1.8. Cl .L 222/132, 222/567 [51] Int.Cl B65d 5/72 [50] FieldofSearch 222/132,

AttorneyPrutzman, Hayes, Kalb & C

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,630,337 3/1953 Snyder 222/566X 2,774,393 12/1956 Swan 222/146(CX) 2,873,051 2/ 1959 Hamburg et al. 222/143X 3,199,738 8/1965 Cary et a]. 222/132X Primary Examiner-Stanley I-I. Tollberg hilton ABSTRACT: System comprising a source of beverage supply and a multiplicity of beverage-dispensing stations each having a discharge passage and a separable dispensing valve connected thereto in communication with the source of beverage supply, the valves each having an outlet, and an auxiliary con trol valve disposed upstream of each valve outlet for shutting off beverage flow through its respective discharge passage upon removal of a dispensing valve without deactivating the system.

PATENTEDJAMSIS?! 3 F/GZ INVENTORS ARTHUR B. SEGAL JOSEPH J. RODTH ATTORNEYS 28 is completely removed from the cold plate to assure that the inlet chamber 40 in the discharge passage is completely closed off before the insert 46 is exposed.

Such automatic shut off action ensures against inadvertent loss of beverage fluids and the undesirable messy conditions which so frequently occur in a conventional multiple station drink-dispensing system when any one of a multiplicity of valves is removed without deactivating the entire system.

By virtue of the above-described structure, a multiple station drink-dispensing system is provided which is particularly suited for facile replacement of any valve, without deactivating the entire system, and thereby minimize equipment shutdown time and loss of revenue in periods of peak demand while significantly reducing the service labor requirements of the system. in addition, the various dispensing station components have been specifically designed to provide easy cleaning and maximum sanitation, and no manual manipulation of the auxiliary control valve is required in view of its automatic shut off action. Upon installing a replacement valve, a faulty dispensing valve need only be returned to a service center without requiring any costly service calls.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modifications and adaptations of the structure abovedescribed will become readily apparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A multiple station drink-dispensing system comprising a common source of beverage supply, a plurality of beveragedispensing stations each having means providing a beverage exit opening connected to said common source of beverage supply, each said dispensing station including a separable beverage-dispensing valve having an outlet in communication with said beverage exit opening of each said dispensing station and a plug-in ported connector removably seated within said beverage exit opening, and an auxiliary control poppet valve positioned in a flow path in each said beverage exit opening, the poppet valve including a valve member operable between open and normally closed flow positions and a valve extension disposed downstream of said valve member between the valve member and the plug-in connector, the valve extension engaging the plug-in connector upon its being seated within said beverage exit opening, said valve member being automatically movable into said normally closed position responsive to removal of its respective beverage-dispensing valve, whereby the remaining beverage-dispensing valves are maintained in operable condition.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said means providing said beverage exit opening comprises a coupling member in communication with said common source of beverage supply.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein each said valve member of said auxiliary control poppet valve is precluded from moving from said open flow position to said normally closed flow position by said beverage-dispensing valve while the latter is maintained in operable condition.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein each said beveragedispensing station further includes heat exchanging means located adjacent said coupling member and in remote relation to said common source of beverage supply.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein each said dispensing station includes a cast metal block, and wherein said coupling member of each said dispensing station is substantially embedded in said cast metal block.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said plug-in connector removably seated within said beverage exit opening of said coupling member is in intimate heat transfer relation to said cast metal block.

7 A multiple station drink-dispensing system comprising a common source of beverage supply, a plurality of beveragedispensing stations each having means providing a beverage exit opening connected to said common source of beverage supply, each said dispensing station including heat exchanging means located adjacent said beverage exit opening, each said dispensing station further including a separable beveragedispensing valve having an outlet in communication with said beverage exit opening of each said dispensing station and a plug-in ported connector removably seated within said beverage exit opening in intimate heat transfer relation to said heat exchanging means, and an auxiliary control valve operable in each said beverage exit opening between open and closed flow positions and disposed upstream of said beverage dispensing valve outlet such that upon moving one of said auxiliary control valves into closed flow position and removing its respective beverage dispensing valve, the remaining beveragedispensing valves are maintained in operable condition.

8. A beverage-dispensing apparatus comprising a coupling member providing a beverage exit opening, said coupling member having a reduced intermediate portion providing a valve seat, a separable beverage-dispensing valve connected to said coupling member, said beverage-dispensing valve having an outlet and a passageway communicating said outlet with said beverage exit opening and jointly defining therewith a beverage discharge passage, said beverage-dispensing valve having a projecting plug-in connector removably seated within said coupling member, and an auxiliary control valve having a valve member received within said coupling member upstream of said plug-in connector for movement toward and away from said valve seat and being continuously urged into engagement therewith for closing said beverage exit opening, said auxiliary control valve including an elongated fluted axial extension between said valve member and said plug-in connector for engagement therewith, and said 1 reduced intermediate portion of said coupling member additionally providing a guide and bearing surface for said axial extension.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein sai'dvalve extension is of sufficient length to contact said plug-in connector before it is fully seated within said coupling member to unseat said valve member, but of insufficient length to maintain contact with said connector during its removal to ensure seating of said valve member in said closed position before said plug-in connector is completely removed. 

1. A multiple station drink-dispensing system comprising a common source of beverage supply, a plurality of beveragedispensing stations each having means providing a beverage exit opening connected to said common source of beverage supply, each said dispensing station including a separable beverage-dispensing valve having an outlet in communication with said beverage exit opening of each said dispensing station and a plug-in ported connector removably seated within said beverage exit opening, and an auxiliary control poppet valve positioned in a flow path in each said beverage exit opening, the poppet valve including a valve member operable between open and normally closed flow positions and a valve extension disposed downstream of said valve member between the valve member and the plug-in connector, the valve extension engaging the plug-in connector upon its being seated within said beverage exit opening, said valve member being automatically movable into said normally closed position responsive to removal of its respective beverage-dispensing valve, whereby the remaining beveraGe-dispensing valves are maintained in operable condition.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein said means providing said beverage exit opening comprises a coupling member in communication with said common source of beverage supply.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein each said valve member of said auxiliary control poppet valve is precluded from moving from said open flow position to said normally closed flow position by said beverage-dispensing valve while the latter is maintained in operable condition.
 4. The system of claim 2 wherein each said beverage-dispensing station further includes heat exchanging means located adjacent said coupling member and in remote relation to said common source of beverage supply.
 5. The system of claim 2 wherein each said dispensing station includes a cast metal block, and wherein said coupling member of each said dispensing station is substantially embedded in said cast metal block.
 6. The system of claim 5 wherein said plug-in connector removably seated within said beverage exit opening of said coupling member is in intimate heat transfer relation to said cast metal block. 7 A multiple station drink-dispensing system comprising a common source of beverage supply, a plurality of beverage-dispensing stations each having means providing a beverage exit opening connected to said common source of beverage supply, each said dispensing station including heat exchanging means located adjacent said beverage exit opening, each said dispensing station further including a separable beverage-dispensing valve having an outlet in communication with said beverage exit opening of each said dispensing station and a plug-in ported connector removably seated within said beverage exit opening in intimate heat transfer relation to said heat exchanging means, and an auxiliary control valve operable in each said beverage exit opening between open and closed flow positions and disposed upstream of said beverage dispensing valve outlet such that upon moving one of said auxiliary control valves into closed flow position and removing its respective beverage dispensing valve, the remaining beverage-dispensing valves are maintained in operable condition.
 8. A beverage-dispensing apparatus comprising a coupling member providing a beverage exit opening, said coupling member having a reduced intermediate portion providing a valve seat, a separable beverage-dispensing valve connected to said coupling member, said beverage-dispensing valve having an outlet and a passageway communicating said outlet with said beverage exit opening and jointly defining therewith a beverage discharge passage, said beverage-dispensing valve having a projecting plug-in connector removably seated within said coupling member, and an auxiliary control valve having a valve member received within said coupling member upstream of said plug-in connector for movement toward and away from said valve seat and being continuously urged into engagement therewith for closing said beverage exit opening, said auxiliary control valve including an elongated fluted axial extension between said valve member and said plug-in connector for engagement therewith, and said reduced intermediate portion of said coupling member additionally providing a guide and bearing surface for said axial extension.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said valve extension is of sufficient length to contact said plug-in connector before it is fully seated within said coupling member to unseat said valve member, but of insufficient length to maintain contact with said connector during its removal to ensure seating of said valve member in said closed position before said plug-in connector is completely removed. 